May 2004 
Dear Friend,
General Conference 2004 is behind us, and there is
much to tell and much to do as we seek to remain faithful to our Wesleyan
and biblical heritage.
This letter will provide a brief overview of our
legislative efforts at General Conference. Next month’s mailing will be a
comprehensive newsletter giving details of what took place and our
response to it.
By holding fast in the face of strong opposition,
the United Methodist Church once again reaffirmed its prohibition against
practicing homosexual clergy, its prohibition against same-sex unions in
churches and its prohibition against church funding of pro-homosexual
advocacy. Language identifying homosexual practice as “incompatible” with
Christian teaching was maintained.
Other favorable legislation passed which you will be
hearing about, including the endorsement of laws in civil society that
define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. However,
legislation that would have provided for accountability for violating the
Discipline were defeated, and many resolutions that allow the
boards and agencies to continue liberal, detrimental programs were passed
by a wide margin. This included almost all of the 15 Women’s Division
petitions.
RENEW-endorsed legislation was defeated by strong
opposition on the part of the Women’s Division and by unjust political
maneuverings about which I will share in next month’s newsletter. The
petition to allow for supplemental women’s ministries was blocked from the
time it surfaced in committee. In an incredible show of discrimination
against women, this same committee voted for legislation that authorized
supplemental men’s ministry groups at the local church level—fully
certified and reporting through the charge conference. These supplemental
groups will join United Methodist Men in “providing a dedicated ministry
for building men spiritually and involving men in the total ministry of
the Church.”
The primary rationale offered for the exclusion of
women’s ministries was the claim that the Discipline allows for
nurturing ministries, and that women can form such ministries without the
benefit of official recognition. While this is a poor and unacceptable
excuse, we will take it as full allowance for supplemental women’s
ministries and will move ahead to encourage women to utilize our
Inspiring Models for Effective Women’s Ministry to revitalize their
local UMW group, or to form new women’s ministries that are effective in
spiritual formation, discipleship and mission.
The ministry models resource provides all that is
needed for a local group to revitalize a current women’s ministry, or to
start a new one. However, we are aware that special gatherings that bring
together taskforce members who shared the ministry ideas in the
Inspiring Models handbook and women who are ready to move forward
provides a dynamic that welcomes the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Such
events can also provide an opportunity to connect with other United
Methodist women who are interested in establishing effective women’s
ministries.
RENEW is prepared to send a small team of women to
hold events that introduce the Inspiring Models concept and to
provide leadership training for those whom God raises up to bring new
paradigms of ministry to the local level. The ministry models events will
be geared for all women, providing inspiration and challenging
presentations in the six areas of ministry covered in the Inspiring
Models handbook. Special attention will be given to leadership
development. We hope you will consider hosting such an event in your
area. While individual churches may want to hold their own meeting, we
encourage several churches to come together to sponsor an area-wide, or
regional gathering.
Inspiring Models events may be scheduled for
one, two or three days. They may be offered as a day-apart or as a
retreat. The setting can be the local church or a retreat center. A two
or three day event would allow more time for prayer, inspiration and
guidance in ministry formation. But, we know God will be present to bring
guidance and enabling regardless of location or time factors.
Use the enclosed card to express your interest in
hosting an Inspiring Models for Effective Women’s Ministry event,
and to obtain more information about how to do so.
Thank you for your prayer support throughout General
Conference. The days were challenging, and your prayers were sustaining.
Continue to pray for RENEW as we move forward with a stronger thrust
toward strengthening women’s ministries within our denomination. God is
providing the personnel needed for such an effort in a miraculous way.
Your continued financial support is essential if we are to accomplish the
calling God has placed upon this ministry. Thank you for standing with
us—and for moving forward with us into the future God is calling us to.
Our closing statement in the Inspiring Models handbook is our
continuing prayer:
Together we welcome the fresh movement of God’s Spirit among us and
through us. Make it so, Lord!
Sincerely in Christ,
L. Faye Short
President